“Everyone is a foreigner somewhere, today it is Lagos; tomorrow it
could be anywhere else”
The statement by the Oba of Lagos and the brouhaha that followed is
the reference point here. Pertinent questions are the validity of
the Oba’s sentiments, and how many other cities or communities are
currently dealing with similar tensions.
Before beginning to proffer solutions, it is worthwhile to play some
possible scenario to set the scene.
(1) Abians discover large deposits of oil in their State. With
prudent use of the additional revenue, the State really transforms
the economy and wellbeing of its citizens. Within a few years,
Abians no longer do menial or blue-collar jobs. Spotting the gap in
supply, many Hausas migrate to Abia and begin to fill the jobs and
to provide services that indigenes would not deign to touch. Such is
the abundance of opportunity and the number of migrants that within
a decade the new comers now constitute a majority. What will happen
if a block vote by the settlers demands Sharia law as a condition to
support candidates for governor?
(2) A radical governor revolutionises rulership in Sokoto State by
making education mandatory till secondary level, and also financing
it. The transformation in lives results in a huge explosion in
demand for services. Over a few years, powerful interests from
Yoruba land respond by moving offices and employees in large
numbers. These families relocate and settle all over the state. On
account of their economic significance and dispersal across the
State, the settlers insist that a form of Yoruba customary law
should operate side-by-side with Sharia. How are the indigenes
likely to respond?
In each case there are legitimate demands, but are they appropriate?
Would the first guests have been welcomed if they made such a
request on arrival? Now, it is easy for the elite to dismiss these
issues and obfuscate reality with sophisticated arguments and logic.
However, they are often far removed, economically and socially from
the trouble spots. The privileged do not have to compete with
non-indigenes for survival opportunities. Neither do they live in
localities where residents are directly impacted by the dress-code,
social conduct, and religious practise of their neighbours. So to
them, the problem is selfishness, in-hospitality, intolerance, or
some other hidden agenda.
We should learn from the Europeans and the problems they have had
with integration of migrants. The issues are real and cannot be
wished away. What we see in some parts of Europe is a failure of the
political elite to balance the economic benefits of migration with
the social costs. The United Kingdom has struggled with an influx
of Eastern Europeans; in the Federal Republic of Germany, Turkish
immigrants have faced exclusion from the mainstream; and in the
French Republic, French identity has remained controversial and
elusive for descendants of North Africans.
Some of these “foreigners” were already resident in their adopted
country before Nigeria became independent! What went wrong?
Leadership failure, had opened up an opportunity for far-right
nationalist politicians to gain political relevance. These fringe
parties offer themselves as vents for the concerns of threatened
groups. In return, they gain bloc votes that put them in the
limelight, and the corridors of power. From there, they project a
fulsome agenda on an unsuspecting but hitherto apathetic majority.
It is important to restate that Nigeria is not as divided as some
fringe political activists will suggest. The results from the last
elections must not be taken at face value, and construed to mean
that the SS and SE see the world distinctly from the rest of the
country. Nevertheless, our present relative peace and unity must not
be compromised by further complacency by the elite. It is time to
think of, and act on, strategies that will strengthen our bonds and
mend the breaches in our relationships, in a New Nigeria.
O.J. Oyewole is a socio-political analyst & commentator
@NewNigerian (Twitter)
lanre@net-technologies.com (email)